The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by smoss469

How do you guys figure out who owns the rights to what film? I know IMDB lists distribution rights but I don't always think it's accurate. Is there another source to quickly find out who has them?

It's largely a matter of keeping one's ear to the ground, and making note when a someone acquires a catalog.

[Mansinthe]

house was a movie i liked alot. same goes for repo man.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Hey iScottie!

There, did I get your attention?

Well, guess what? You're NOT crazy!

No one is crazy for liking or disliking any film.

On the other hand, I have to admit that when I saw his list of disliked Criterions, I was slackjawed by how many films in that list are among my favorite Criterions.

So, no, he's not crazy, but I reserve the right to smile at him, and back away slowly...

[Thebunk]

Worst Blind Buys for me:

1) Brazil - Could not even finish this flick. I have stated my confusion many times in this thread around how it is so loved and I still do not get it. Long, meandering, dated, confusing and all in the worst way possible. My copy will be going on ebay as soon as I get of my butt and get it listed.

2) RepoMan - While a bit more enjoyable then Brazil (and I can see how this would have been loved in the 80s by young people) it is just boring to me. Again, the poor 80's special effects (which was a very dark time in my opinion for effects) just makes it so dated. Hard to ignore the influence that it has had though. On the fence of re-watching this again or just putting on ebay as well.

3) Army of Shadows - Honestly, besides giving props to how he can create some cool characters (Le Samurai, Le Cercle Rouge) I think Melville is so supremely overrated. I liked a lot of this film up until the abrupt TV of the Week ending. And the credits were hilarious with the cheesy picture of the actor with their name and character name. So unintentionally hilarious. In short, I don't think Melville made bad films, but they are just grossly over-rated. They just seem way to generic to me. Even the other two films I mentioned in my opinion were carried by Alain Delon and not the screenplay or direction.

4) Rosetta - I really like La Promesse and love Kid With a Bike but Rosetta was a disapointment. Dark, dreary and really at the end of the day for me, pretty much pointless. The character really has no reeeeming qualities for me. Also, I am not a fan of character driven films with no real story. I dislike them even more when the character in question is so utterly unsympathetic.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

No kidding! i just finished watching House and still am wondering what the hell I just witnessed. It's more of a fantasy film (and experimental one) than horror as the director Obayashi himself said. This is the sort of film young people probably "understand" more than the older generations. It's totally crazy.

Well, warned ya--The older generations are the ones who keep pointing out it was a well-known Japanese TV commercial director's stylized feature debut with the same self-indulgently playful use of quick editing and visual-FX gags; it's the young people who say "Huhuh, dood was on drugs..."

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jayembee

So, no, he's not crazy, but I reserve the right to smile at him, and back away slowly...

Don't look him directly in the eye but don't look away either.

[14728]

This isn't Criterion Related, but last night for halloween I saw a screening of Ghostbusters at this amazing preserved theater. It was a 70mm print, which made it all the more awesome

[Tin Drum]

Any word on packaging with dual formats?

Just wondering. Did they ask reviewers not to discuss any detail before release, perhaps?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by 14728

This isn't Criterion Related, but...

Then why post it here?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Worst Blind Buys for me:

1) Brazil - Could not even finish this flick. I have stated my confusion many times in this thread around how it is so loved and I still do not get it. Long, meandering, dated, confusing and all in the worst way possible. My copy will be going on ebay as soon as I get of my butt and get it listed.

2) RepoMan - While a bit more enjoyable then Brazil (and I can see how this would have been loved in the 80s by young people) it is just boring to me. Again, the poor 80's special effects (which was a very dark time in my opinion for effects) just makes it so dated. Hard to ignore the influence that it has had though. On the fence of re-watching this again or just putting on ebay as well.

3) Army of Shadows - Honestly, besides giving props to how he can create some cool characters (Le Samurai, Le Cercle Rouge) I think Melville is so supremely overrated. I liked a lot of this film up until the abrupt TV of the Week ending. And the credits were hilarious with the cheesy picture of the actor with their name and character name. So unintentionally hilarious. In short, I don't think Melville made bad films, but they are just grossly over-rated. They just seem way to generic to me. Even the other two films I mentioned in my opinion were carried by Alain Delon and not the screenplay or direction.

4) Rosetta - I really like La Promesse and love Kid With a Bike but Rosetta was a disapointment. Dark, dreary and really at the end of the day for me, pretty much pointless. The character really has no reeeeming qualities for me. Also, I am not a fan of character driven films with no real story. I dislike them even more when the character in question is so utterly unsympathetic.

I definitely agree on Army of Shadows. The film is a masterpiece, make no doubt about it, but it'll probably be another five years before I consider watching it again.

Repo Man wasn't the film I was expecting (I had seen Sid & Nancy beforehand and I loved it), but I can see myself returning to it on a yearly basis.

------

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I definitely agree on Army of Shadows. The film is a masterpiece, make no doubt about it, but it'll probably be another five years before I consider watching it again.

I get edgy if I don't get my Army of Shadows fix at least two or three times a year.

Originally Posted by 14728

This isn't Criterion Related, but last night for halloween I saw a screening of Ghostbusters at this amazing preserved theater. It was a 70mm print, which made it all the more awesome

Sweet! I saw Ghostbusters at the theater in 1984. Funnily enough, my church youth group rented a bus to go see the movie.

Last night, I chilled out on the sofa and watched the new Blu-ray of the 1963 version of The Haunting. So, so amazing to see this movie in high definition at last.

[Judex]

BFI have just announced Classe tous risques is getting a blu release over here early next year.

I wouldn't be too shocked if Criterion upgrade theirs next year.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Judex

BFI have just announced Classe tous risques is getting a blu release over here early next year.

This is the best news I've heard all day. Classe Tous Risques is one of my favorite Criterion DVDs, and I've been holding on tight to my copy. Lino Ventura and Jean-Paul Belmondo for the win.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Repo Man wasn't the film I was expecting (I had seen Sid & Nancy beforehand and I loved it), but I can see myself returning to it on a yearly basis.

------

so far there is no criterion release i did really dislike. (movies from criterion + other labels), repo man (got the moc bluray) is probably one of my favorite "fun" movies i might rewatch from time to time. same goes for "house" , its really a strange and most time "odd" movie but i liked it for all this strange stuff

only movie of the criterion collection so far, that i consider a movie i might probably "never" rewatch was "Hunger", i liked the actors and the whole script, but i was absolutly not interesset in the destiny of these people that do political bombing and other stuff... and there was way to much "disturbing" scenes that i didnt care for at all.

since its similar to the criterion collection, only MoC movie i didnt like so far is "une femme marie" from godard.. (still im gonna watch his "breathless" soon)

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Worst Blind Buys for me:

3) Army of Shadows - Honestly, besides giving props to how he can create some cool characters (Le Samurai, Le Cercle Rouge) I think Melville is so supremely overrated. I liked a lot of this film up until the abrupt TV of the Week ending. And the credits were hilarious with the cheesy picture of the actor with their name and character name. So unintentionally hilarious. In short, I don't think Melville made bad films, but they are just grossly over-rated. They just seem way to generic to me. Even the other two films I mentioned in my opinion were carried by Alain Delon and not the screenplay or direction.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I definitely agree on Army of Shadows. The film is a masterpiece, make no doubt about it, but it'll probably be another five years before I consider watching it again.

geez.. just when I was getting excited to explore Melville! I've got Le Deuxieme Souffle at my desk here... going to start watching it on my lunch hour.

certainly not an earth shattering observation, but I guess not everybody agrees on their favorites - especially, when 3 people say they don't like The Third Man!

very surprised though that not a single person said anything negative about Heaven's Gate after I asked about it a few days ago. can't wait to see it!

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

geez.. just when I was getting excited to explore Melville! I've got Le Deuxieme Souffle at my desk here... going to start watching it on my lunch hour.

certainly not an earth shattering observation, but I guess not everybody agrees on their favorites - especially, when 3 people say they don't like The Third Man!

very surprised though that not a single person said anything negative about Heaven's Gate after I asked about it a few days ago. can't wait to see it!

Hope you enjoy Heaven's Gate, that film is getting closer and closer to my top 25 with every viewing.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Hope you enjoy Heaven's Gate, that film is getting closer and closer to my top 25 with every viewing.

Cool! Well, I either like or love almost all of your top 25, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now, I just need to find the time. Will be showing my wife The Deer Hunter this weekend. Making her sit through Heaven's Gate, however, might be asking too much. I already bored her with the back story about all of the production nightmares, conflict with the studio, etc. Like the great wife she is, she feigned interest.

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

geez.. just when I was getting excited to explore Melville! I've got Le Deuxieme Souffle at my desk here... going to start watching it on my lunch hour.

certainly not an earth shattering observation, but I guess not everybody agrees on their favorites - especially, when 3 people say they don't like The Third Man!

very surprised though that not a single person said anything negative about Heaven's Gate after I asked about it a few days ago. can't wait to see it!

I love Le Deuxieme Souffle. One of my favorite shots is in that film, as four men wearing wool overcoats look down a mountain slope - keep your eye out for it. As a Melville fan, myself, I consider him to be *underrated*, if anything!

As for Classes Tous Risques, I just bought the DVD a few months back, but still haven't gotten around to watching this one yet. The Great Owl recommended it specifically due to my interest in Melville. I'll get around to this one soon.

On a side note, another film I revisited recently, that I would love for Criterion to pick up: American Graffiti. This is probably my favorite nostalgic 50's film - absolutely love it. I also feel as though it resides in the shadow of Star Wars, so it would be a great addition to Criterion's catalogue.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

geez.. just when I was getting excited to explore Melville! I've got Le Deuxieme Souffle at my desk here... going to start watching it on my lunch hour.

certainly not an earth shattering observation, but I guess not everybody agrees on their favorites - especially, when 3 people say they don't like The Third Man!

very surprised though that not a single person said anything negative about Heaven's Gate after I asked about it a few days ago. can't wait to see it!

BW, I would highly reccomend Bob Le Flambour and Le Samorai above everything else. To clarify, I love Melville, but Army of Shadows is the one film of his that leaves me a tad cold. And I've seen quite a few of his films.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

I love Le Deuxieme Souffle. One of my favorite shots is in that film, as four men wearing wool overcoats look down a mountain slope - keep your eye out for it. As a Melville fan, myself, I consider him to be *underrated*, if anything!

As for Classes Tous Risques, I just bought the DVD a few months back, but still haven't gotten around to watching this one yet. The Great Owl recommended it specifically due to my interest in Melville. I'll get around to this one soon.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

BW, I would highly reccomend Bob Le Flambour and Le Samorai above everything else. To clarify, I love Melville, but Army of Shadows is the one film of his that leaves me a tad cold. And I've seen quite a few of his films.

Le Samourai seems to be his most highly regarded film. Definitely looking forward to that one. I grabbed Le Deuxieme Souffle first because both Army of Shadows and Le Samourai were checked out of the library. They actually have the blu-ray copy of Army of Shadows, so I can't wait to see it. Le Cercle Rouge is the only Melville I've seen so far. I liked it, but wasn't blown away by it. Nevertheless, it has kind of stuck with me a bit, which is the reason for further exploration into his filmography.